By PAULINE DALLONG
The Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), has called on the Plateau State government to direct the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs to speedily address the troubles surrounding districts and village heads in the state.
This was contained in a notice of motion, moved by Hon. Philip Peter Dasun, member representing Pankshin North Constituency and seconded by Hon. Amurudu Usaini, member representing Bokkos Constituency.
According to him, issues relating to the appointment, confirmation and installation of all district heads in the state must be addressed, because reports from research conducted by him showed that about sixty (60) to seventy (70) percent of traditional institutions are having problems in their domain.
He said, the state Government, through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs should expedite action towards ensuring that all litigation processes were concluded on time so that all their delayed entitlements and salaries would be paid in full.
Hon. Amurudu Usaini, while making a case for his constituency, urged the state government to come up with the selective process regarding the paramount ruler of Bokkos whose stool still remained vacant as according to him, it will help in curtailing security challenges bedevilling the area.
Members in thier various contributions wondered why salaries and entitlements of district and village heads have to be delayed or witheld for whatsoever reason, considering their role as custodians of the people and called for the immediate payment.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba in his prayers, resolved that the Plateau State government through the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs should with immediate effect, address issues regarding all the remunerations of the district and village heads concerned. He also mandated that all their entitlements be paid.
Meanwhile, the PLHA has passed for second reading, a bill for a law to establish the Plateau State Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) board and other matters connected, 2020 sponsored by Hons. Daniel Nanbol Listick, Yahaya Adamu Mavo, Timothy Dantong and Amurudu Usaini.
Hon. Nanbol Listick, House Committee Chairman on Health and member representing Langtang North Central Constituency who moved a motion to that effect said, traditional and alternative medicine has always been a part of our health culture from time immemorial.
He stated that the bill when signed into law, will provide the needed avenue for the rich health culture of the state to be incorporated into the already existing health sector as practiced in other climes.
“This bill when passed into law, will enhance the coordination, regulation and control of traditional and alternative medicine in Plateau State, including its practice and procedures inline with the Traditional Medicine Policy for Nigeria, 2007”, he added.
Speaking further, he outlined some of the advantages of the bill to include harnessing the economic and tourism potentials of the state, which will in the long run contribute towards achieving the SDGs.
“Aside from providing employment opportunities for our teeming youth in the area of conservation, cultivation and harvesting of medicinal plants, including marketing and distribution, the bill will reduce the use of foreign currency for the importation of unnecessary medicines while promoting exportation”.
In his submission, Deputy Speaker and member representing Dengi constituency, Hon. Shehu Saleh Yipmong who emphasized on the importance of the bill, said it was timely and fully supports its passage as “it will certainly be beneficial to not only the people of Plateau but the country at large”.
After all contributions, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, forwarded the bill to the House Committee on Health to conduct a public hearing after which it was expected to be brought back to the floor of the House on the 29th July, 2020.
